Memento Mori

Remembering that you have to die isn't as popular as it once was. But it must be a thought that crops up every now and then for most collectors, who (for each pot) are just the latest custodians in a growing line or predecessors.  This little BV pattern, Portuguese stripe, stoneware jug, I won at the Cottees' Poole Pottery auction in April last year (lot 318).  Its just 7 cm in height and shape number T323 (theT tells us that its a piece of tableware). It was made in 1921.  I don't know how it found it's way into the Cottees sale, but the sticker on the base tells us that it previously belonged to Albert E. Wade, and was sold (as part of lot. 189), along with the rest of his collection of pottery, at Sotheby's in 2002.  I'm hoping it will be quite a few years before it goes to market again.

Massive Poole

I thought this photo needed something to give a sense of scale, so I've reused the little grape pattern vase from the last post.  The main attraction though is a really quite massive VT pattern vase, shape number 515, painted by Gertie Warren in the mid 1920's.  I won it on eBay a year or so ago and, at 38 cm tall, its a couple of inches bigger than any of my other pots.

Awake again!

It's been nearly 2 years since the last photo appeared on this blog, but my collecting never really stopped, and I now have quiet a few new pots that have never had an outing.  So to test the water, here's a little 9 cm tall vase, shape number 967, painted in TR (grapes) pattern by Phyllis Ryall some time between 1928 and '34.

Normal service will resume

But maybe not for several years.
After five years of determined blogging, this my second blog, has again been slightly over taken by events.
My first allotment blog had to end, along with my allotment tenancy 3 years ago, all because full time work got in the way. Now this blog is thwarted by a return to part time education,  So while I still be collecting Poole, I might not have so much time to share all of my finds.
I bought the vase above a fair few months ago.   I thought the Chinese blue bird pattern worked quite well on this shape, and at 9 inches tall it's a good size.  The pattern is PN and was painted by Anne Hatchard in the mid 1920s.

676/JB

This shape of Bokhara vase crops up less often than the other two shapes.  It comes in two sized, and at eight and tree quarter inches this is the taller one.

Straight Champions!

Arrrrrrh! Half drunk on a Friday night, I can contain myself no more. Signing up for the latest Stonewall.org.uk campaign my employer is now looking for straight allies and fight my (gay) corner. Am I the only gay man that is uneasy about Stonewall.org.uk representing me?
Like every other gay men my age, I grew up with my sexuality more or less criminalised.  As a young gay man, I've enjoyed breaking the law on many occasions and my current employer would certainly have stacked me at the time, had I been caught.
That all changed because of me and the actions of hundreds of thousands of other gay men and lesbians, some of them paid a huge price.  The law and society changed because of mass sexual disobedience. Straight allies did not do that, they cannot understand how it was, or how it is now, no matter how lovely they are.
I worry that when your persecutor becomes your champion in one fell swoop, maybe they have just found some other way of treading you into the ground.
Above, is a plate from about the time when homosexuality was partially decriminalised, painted by Jean Millership.

Eastern Promise

Our postman handed me this vase about 2 hours ago. It fits nicely with the bigger and better strategy I try in vain to stick to and my haste in posting the photo on here perhaps indicates how pleased I am to own it.   The 872 molded shape was designed by Harold Stabler between 1925 and 26, and works particularly well with this Persian or Turkish inspired DU pattern that was designed by Truda Carter. The vase was painted by Ann Hatchard.

A little Art Deco

I think this vase is about as Art Deco as Poole gets and packs a big jazzy punch for its 3 inches in height.  Shape no 501, JV pattern painted by Rene Hayes in the early 1930's.

Go Greece

Shape 293, KM pattern painted by Ethel Barrett in the early 1920's. This hand thrown plate is surprisingly heavy since it's potted so much thicker than anything mechanically jollied.
Having got that off my chest, I just wanted to say how glad I am about Greece's vote against austerity tonight.   For a long time I've seen myself as pro European, but with a UK EU referendum planned, the chance to throw a spanner in the works of an anti democratic, market orientated Europe. with London bankers at it's financial center. makes a No vote really quite appealing.  Calling the bluff on David Cameron's inept politicking would be the cherry on the cake.